Reversible deadlock for door latches



April 27, i1954 E, SCHLAGE 2,676,827 4REVERSIBLE.' nEAoLocx Foa nooR LATcHss Filed Nov. 1. 1949' s sheets-sheet 1 FIG. 1.-

mx sa |518 34 I I 3| I I9 l I, .1 -28 9 46 I8 33 I9 V- INVENTOR.

Emea Lscmcqe ATTORN EY.

E. L. 'scHLAG REVERSIBLE DRAnLock RoR nooR LATcHEs Filed Nov. 1. 1949 Ain-i127, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FIG-.9 l

April 27. 1954 E. vl... scHLAGF.` I 2,676,827

REVERSIBLE DEADLOCK FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Nov. vl, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

. I Ernesi L. Schlag-e. BY l ATTORNEY'.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 Ernest L. Schlage, Burlin Schlage Lock Comp game, Calif., assigner to any, a corporation Application November 1, 1949, Serial No. 124,829

s claims. (c1. 292-244) My invention relates generally to door hardware and particularly to locks and latches for holding a door in its closed condition. The invention especially is concerned with a dead lock for a door latch in which the latch bolt may normally be externally moved from its projected to its retracted position, but when the dead bolt is activated the door latch bolt cannot be so eX- ternally moved. It is necessary to provide door hardware in right hand and left hand sets since doors are customarily hung in either of the two opposite hands. Since the latch bolt face is bevelled or inclined correspondingly, the entire set must be made accordingly.

It is an object of my invention to provide a door latch having a dead lock and eiiectively usable on either right hand or left hand doors.

Another object of my invention is to provide a deadlock for a door latch and which is reversible to operate with left hand doors or right hand doors.

A further object of my invention is to provide a reversible dead lock and door latch which does not interfere in any way with the general construction and operation of the remaining part of the door latching mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a reversible dead lock for a door latch of a nature so that it can be incorporated in locks constructed of pressings and stampings and, for example, of the type shown in Patent No. 1,876,080, issued on September 6, 1932 to Walter R. Schlage.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved reversible dead lock for a doorlatch.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a generally improved article of door hardware.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are

Aattained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross section on a longitudinal,

Vertical plane of a reversible dead lock for a door latch of my invention, the parts being shown in "the position assumed when the door is closed.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the structure shown in Figure 1, the planes of section being at right angles to that of Figure 1 and being on the 4lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view from 'the reverse side, of a bolt'sub-assembly of vthe mechanism `shown in Figures land 2.

Figure 4 is a'perspective view from the obverse side; of the sub-assembly shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a lock cylinder sub-assembly. of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 is a vperspective view of a retractor element. I

Figure 7 is 'a perspective View of a barrier rod.

Fig. 8 is a cross section similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts in the positions assumed when the door is open. l

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 and is in cross section'at rightangles to the view in Figure 8, the plane of section bei-ng indicated by the line S-Q of Figure 8 A Figure 10 is a perspective viewv of a partial subassembly of a latchbolt some parts being `broken away. A

Figure 11 is a perspective View showing one of thesleeves incorporated in the mechanism.

Figure 12is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line l 2--I 2 o f Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line'I3-i3 of Figure 8.

Figure v14 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line l 4-"I 4 of Figure 8.

Figure 15 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the` line I5-l5 of Figure 8.

Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a guide tube in its conditionbefore assembly.

Figure 17 is a perspective View showing another of the sleeves incorporated in the mechanism.

Figure 18 is a perspective View of a retainer utilized in connection with the remaining structure.

While the reversible dead lock for a door latch of my invention can be incorporated in a number of dilferent ways and 'can' be variedwithinwide limits depending upon the venvironment in which itv is to operate and depending upon the particular operating conditions it is to encounter, it has successfully been embodied asillustrated herein.

In this form of the device, the structure is mounted in a door 6 @designed to swing with resp'ect to` a doorv jamb v'1 and, whenvin closed position, to come to rest against a stop 8. The door jamb 1 is provided witha recess s in the customary Way, the' recess being in part defined by a strike plate lvl secured 'tothe jamb and affording not only an enteringicam surface I2 but also an adjacent plane surface i3.' Installed in the door 6 is a pair of actuating units I4 and i6. These units are complementary as shown herein although they can bv identical or of various different forms. In the-present instance both of the actuating units I4 and I6 are installed in substantial alignment with each other in a cross bore I1 in the door 6. The units are mutually fastened together and held to the door by machine screws I8 engaging in threaded tubes I9 so that the escutcheons 2I of the units are appropriately secured.

The unit I4 includes a manually movable or rotatable'handle 23 fastened to a non-circular cross bar 24 extending into a lock cylinder 26 incorporated in the unit I6. This unit is designed for manual actuation after insertion of a key 21. The effect of both or either of the units I4 and I6 is to rotate the non-circular bar 24 and thus to produce a corresponding' oscillation of a crank 28 engaging thebar. Motion of the crank 28 is utilized to operate a latch bolt 3| receivable in the recess 9 and freely passing through an opening 32 in the strike plate I I.

The latch bolt 3| is of a special construction and includes a generally'solid head 33 having an inclined cam surface '34 designed to engage with the cam surface I2 and `likewise havinga planar face 36 parallel to a similar flat face 3.1V on the other side of the bolt. The bolt is supported and guided for sliding movement in the doorV and with respect to a face plate 38 comprising a generally planar piece` of metalhavingan opening 39 ktherein of the same non-circular-contour as the cross sectional contour of the bolt.-3l.

The face plate is secured inposition on the door by fastening screws4l and is substantially symmetrical about a horizontal lineA so that the plate 38` can be installed either in upright or in inverted position without difference or so that the cam surface 34 of `thev latch bolt can face either to the right or to the left. Inl that way the latch bolt is made reversible with respect to the particular door in which it is installed. Since the face plate is by its contour in effect keyed to the latch bolt for relative sliding movement only, the latch bolt is in effect rotated with the face plate and about an axis 42 extending lengthwise of the latch bolt.

In accordance with'my invention, the door 6 is provided with a Vbore 43 intersecting the bore I1 and carrying a generally circular cylindrical casing 4-4 having an extension46 interengaged with the members I9 so that the `actuating units are related to the casing. 44 for operation. Although the face plate38 rotates and carries the latch bolt 3-I with it,it is not desired to rotate the casing 44, and consequently I provide a rotary interengagement so that these `parts can partake of relative rotation, about the axis 42, between either of the two principal installed positions; that is, upright or inverted for right-hand or lefthand use. For that reason the face plate 38 is provided with a backing plate 41 secured in spaced relation thereto by flanges 48 interengaged withtubular rivets 49 struck up fromthe face plate 33. Advantage is taken of the. space between the backing plate 4.1 and` the face plate 38v to receive an outturned ange -I on thel forward end of the casing y4.4. This relationship affords a rotatable inter-connection between the face plate with its attendant. parts and the casing 44 normally held from rotation by interengagement with the actuating units. I4 and` I6..

Within the casing 44 the latch bolt 3l is expanded to a substantially complete circular cylindrical shell 52- ttingloosely within the casing 44 and along its side edges being spaced apart to leave a longitudinalslot 53. A :coil spring 56 disposed within the casing. expandsat'one end 4 against the end of the shell 52 of the latch bolt and at its other end expands against an end plate 51 resting against a washer 58 abutting the inturned end 59 of the casing 44. The effect of the spring 5B is normally to press the latch bolt outwardly of the casing 44 until the circular portion 52 abuts the inside of the face plate 38 which therefore acts as a stop. In closing movement of the door or whenever the latch bolt 3I is pressed inwardly into the casing 44, the spring 56 is compressed to store energy for subsequently projecting the latch bolt.

Since the latch bolt can be forced inwardly by pressure upon it from the space between the door '6 and the door jamb 1 I provide a dead lock including lock bolt IDI to prevent such movement when the-door is closed. Mounted within the casing 44 is a rod 6I at one end provided with a socketv E2 located on the axis 42 and engaging a protuberance B3 upstanding axially from the end plate 51. This mounting prevents endwise movement of the rod, at least in an inward direction, but permits the rod to swing laterally or transversely about the protuberance as a center, in all directions to either-side of the axisv 42. When the rod is displaced from a coaxial position, it acts as a block or barrier in the path of sliding movement of a guide tube 64 mounted coaxially and in effect forming part of the latch bolt 3|. This is because the guide tube is provided with a peripheral groover 66 into which extends a partial retainer (i1l itself held in position by an inturned ange 68 on the latch bolt 3|. The interengagement is preferably such that the guide tube $4 is in effect a solid part of the latch bolt, rotates about the axis 42 with it and slides in the direction of the axis along a predetermined path when the latch bolt slides. It is possible to leave the interengagement with sufficient looseness so that the guide tube does not turn with the latch bolt, but this is largely a matter of choice since these parts are axially symmetrical. The interior of the guide tube is provided with a central chamber 10 and a reduced end opening 12 of approximately the diameter of the rod 6I so that a substantial shoulder 13 remains between their diameters. The opening 12 is continued to provide an extended recess 14 within the latch bolt in the direction of the axis 42 and of a size to receive a substantial part of the rod 6 I.

When the rod is out of its axial position a substantial amount any inward motion of the latch bolt is quickly arrested, after a small lost motion, by an abutment of the shoulder 13 with thel end of the rod 5I and such abutment or blockage takes place no matter in what rotated position the latch bolt happens to be and no matter inwhich direction the rod 6I is displaced from its axial location. It is therefore impossible to drive the latch bolt inwardly when the rod 6I is substantially displaced so that the rod in effect serves as a dead lock.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for removing the effect of the dead lock by restoring the rod 6I to an axial position, when desired, so that the latch bolt 3l can be retracted. Engaging the guide tube 64 is a retractor link 15 preferably formed of a bent sheet arranged to provide a complete loop 16 encompassing and slidable on the exterior of the guide tube 64 in an intermediate portion thereof andengageable, upon further sliding movement, with an enlarged abutment 11 thereon. The loop 16 is connected by a channel shank 18 to eyes 19 carrying a pin BI also passing through elongated openings 82 in the crankv 28 so `that rotary oscillation of` thecrank 28 produces a retracting motion of the retracting link 15. The slot 82 permits substantially rectilinear movement of the link 15 as guided in an appropriate aperture 83 in the end of the casing 44.

When the rod 6| is in its displaced position the retracting movement of the link 15 cannot by itself `withdraw the latch bolt. All it can do is to take up the lost motion in the space 86 between the end of the loop 16 and the abutment 11. I utilize this lost motion for axially positioning the rod 6|. For that reason the guide tube 64 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed side slots 81 and 88 in which are slidably mounted extended wings 89 and 9| extending from diametrically opposite sides of a sleeve 92 of tubular form, The sleeve has a ange 93 tting closely within an enlarged portion 1| on the guide tube adjacent the central portion 10 of the guide tube 64. A coil vspring 94 is' disposed within the enlarged portion and is interposed between the flange 93 and a plurality of lugs 96 struck inwardly from the end of guide tube 64 upon assembly. The spring 94 therefore normally urges the sleeve 92 into a position with its flange 93 in abutment 'with the enlargement of the guide tube 64 and with the projections or ears 89 and 9| extending in the path of the loop 15. In this position of the sleeve 92, its leading edge 91 just clears an adjacent, inclined cam surface 98 of a cam enlargement 99 on the rod 6|. The cam surface 98 is of any convenient contour and in the present instance is made a surface of revolution; for example, a coni-Y cal surface.

When the rod 6| is in blocking or barrier position and when either the key 21 or the knob I4 is rotated, the retractor link 15 moves to take up the lost motion 86 and in doing so translates or slides the sleeve 92 axially so that the leading edge 9'1Mthereof cams against the surface v98 and lifts or'centralizes the rod 6| from its lateral, displaced position into its coaxial, central position in alignment with the opening 12 and the extended recess 14. At the same time, the spring 94 is compressed. Ihe initial movement of the retractor link 15 centralizes the blocking rod 6|, and permits further movement. Such further movement causes the link 15 to engage the abutment 11 on the guide tube 64 so that the latch bolt is retracted and simultaneously telescopes the end of the rod 6| through the opening 12 into the recess 14,. According to this mode of operation, therefore, While the rod 6| is in dead lock position when the latch bolt is projected, it is readily and freely centralized and the latch bolt is easily withdrawn upon manual operation of either of the devices I4 or I6 and this whether the latch boltris arranged in its left hand door position or is in its right hand door position.

In further accordance with my invention, I provide means for centralizing the dead lock rod 6I except when the door is in closed position. Passing through the face plate 38 alongside the latch bolt 3| but ina location so that it does not pass through the aperture 32 in the strike plate I I is a dead lock bolt I This bolt has a :dat end designed to abut the flat surface I3 on the strike plate I I and extends into the interior ofthe casing 44, but since it is carried in part by the face plate 38 and is in part supported by the latch bolt 3| it is readily rotated with the latch bolt and the face plate into either or any of the extreme positions of both parts and at least into the erect and 6i inverted,v right' and left hand positions of the mechanism.

Inside the casing 44, the dead lock bolt i6! is provided with an inturned foot |92 engaging the bolt 3| to preclude excessive projection and at its inner end |03 abuts an out-turned circular flange |Il4provided on a sleeve |06. The sleeve |06 is provided with a pair of slots |61 and |68 extending along its length on opposite sides in order to accommodate the retractor link 15 in either of two positions of assembly but still retains a suiiicient extent of ange |04 so that the ange is readily engaged by the end |03 of the dead lock bolt. This relationship is such that the dead lock bolt in its own longitudinal sliding movement Within the casing 44 produces a comparable sliding movement of the sleeve |96 no matter what rotated position about the axis 42 the dead lock bolt happens to.

occupy. Y

When the door is in open position, the sleeve |06 is telescoped over the guide tube 64 under urgency of a coil spring I engaging an inturned shoulder ||2 on the sleeve and also engaging a lug ||3 depending from the rod 6| near the socket 62. The spring is effective not only to urge the rod 6| into a non-aligned position but also is effective to urge the sleeve |05 into a position such that a collar ||5 on the sleeve, approximately equal in diameter to the sleeve 92, overrides a second conical surface ||4 on the cam 99. The rod 6| is thus cammed into aligned, central coaxial position. When the dead lock bolt ||J| is in projected position when the door is open, the latch bolt 3| can beretracted either by the mechanisms I4 and |6 or by manual pressure upon the bolt itself.

When the door is closed, however, and the latch bolt 3| is disposed within the recess 9, the dead lock bolt |9| has been carried back or inwardly by the latch bolt 3| since, in closing action of the door the latch bolt engages with the foot |92 on the dead lock bolt. This inward sliding movement of the dead lock bolt translates the sleeve |06 so that the collar I l5 is removed from the cam position 99 of the rod 6| and the spring is additionally compressed with even greater force against the lug H3. This causes the rod 6| to drop or spring out of its aligned position into a non-aligned, blocking position in the path of the shoulder 13. During this time since neither the key 21 nor the knob 23 is actuated, the sleeve 92 vis out of engagement with the cam portion 99 and the rod 5I drops freely into blocking position, the latch bolt 3| can not be driven inwardly and can only be withdrawn by manipulation of either of the structures I4 and I6.

Since the described lfunctions occur equally well in any rotated position of the latch bolt 3| and the dead lock "colt |9| with respect to the casing 44, I have provided in accordance with this invention a reversible dead lock for a door latch .whichris useful on right or left hand door.; without more than mere inversion of some of the parts.

VI claim:

l. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a plate having an aperture thereinand mounted on said casing for rotation, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing and through said aperture, means constraining said latch bolt to rotate with said plate, an abutment slidable in a predetermined path with said latch bolt, a rod and means constraining said rod against sliding movement in said casing and for swinging movement into and out of the pathof said abutment.

2. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a plate having an aperture therein and mounted on said casing for rotation, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing and through said aperture, means constraining said latch bolt to rotate with said plate, an abutment slidable in a predetermined path with said latch bolt, a rod, and means constraining said rod against sliding movement in said casing and for swinging movement into and out of the path of said abutment, said constraining means including a spring for urging said rod to swing into a position in said path and means for holding said rod in a position out of said path.

3. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing and to rotate therein, an abutment slidable in a predetermined path with said latch bolt, a rod, means constraining said rod against sliding movement in said casing and for swinging movement into and out of the path of said abutment, said constraining means including a spring for urging said rod to swing into a position in said path and means for holding said rod in a position out of said path; and a dead lock bolt f or disabling said holding means.

4. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said easing along an axis and to rotate in said casing around said axis, an abutment slidable in a predetermined path with said latch bolt, a rod, means constraining said rod against sliding movement in said casing and for swinging movement into and out of the path of Said abutment, a dead lock bolt slidably and rotatably mounted on said casing and arranged to rotate about said axis to occupy selectively either one or two alternative positions on opposite sides of said axis, and means in said casing and engageable by said dead lock bolt in either one of Said two alternative positions for moving said rod into and out of said path.

5. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing and to rotate therein about a central axis, said latch bolt having a recess therein along said axis, a rod in said casing held against axial movement and movable into and out of alignment with said recess, a centralizing cam on said rod, a sleeve slidable in said casing between a rst lposition in engagement with said cam and holding said rod in alignment with said recess and a second position out or" engagement with said cam, means for urging said sleeve into said iirst position, and a dead lock bolt slidably mounted on said casing and arranged to occupy different rotated positions with respect to said axis and in abutment with said sleeve.

6. A reversible dead lock or a door latch comprising a easing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing and to rotate in said casing, an abutment mounted for movement in a predetermined path with said latch bolt, a barrier movable between a first position out of said path and a second position in said path blocking said movement, a dead lock bolt slidably and rotatably mounted on said casing and arranged to rotate to occupy selectively either one of two alternative positions therein, and means in said casing for moving said barrier between said first and said second positions, said means being engageable by said dead lock bolt in both of said alternative positions.

7. A reversible dead lock for a door latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing andto rotate therein about a central axis, said latch bolt having a recess therein along said axis, a rod in said casing held against axial movement and movable into and out of alignment with said recess, a centralizing cam on said rod, a first sleeve slidable in said casing between a first position in engagement with said cam and holding said rod in alignment with said recess and a second position out of engagement with said cam, a spring for urging said rst sleeve into said first position, a second sleeve slidable in said casing between a nrst position in engagement with said cam and holding said rod in alignment with said recess and a second position out of engagement with said cam, means for urging'saidsecond sleeve into said second position, said spring being operatively connected with said rod for urging the latter out of alignment with said recess, a dead lock bolt slidably mounted on said` casing and arranged to occupy diierent rotated positions with respect to said axis and in abutment with said rst sleeve, and means in abutment with said latch bolt for sliding said latch bolt.

8. A dead lock for a door latch comprising: a

casing, a latch bolt mounted to slide in said casing along a central axis, said latch bolt having a recess therein along said axis, a rod in said casing held against axial movement and movable into and out of alignment with said recess, a centralizing cam on said rod, a first sleeve slidable in said casing between a iirst position in engagement with said cam and holding said rod in alignment with said recess and a second position out of engagement with said cam, means for urging said rst sleeve into said first position, a second sleeve slidable in said casing between a rst position in engagement with said cam and holding said rod in alignment with said recess and a second position out of engagement with said cam,.means for urging said second sleeve into said second position, a dead lock bolt slidably mounted in said casing for sliding said iirst sleeve, and retracting means in said casing for sliding said latch bolt and said second sleeve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES FATENTS Number Name Date 1,148,549 Sparks Aug. 3, 1915 1,739,654 Schlage Deo. 17, 1929 2,157,853 Heyer May 9, 1939 2,250,727 Schlage July 29, 1941 2,390,756 Voight Dec. 11, 1945 2,497,750 Wardwell, Jr. Feb. 14, 1950 2,516,991 Heyer Aug, l, 1950 

